Lock



W. E. MAULDIN.

LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, I918.

- Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

u n76 I mNuiF Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

WILLIAM E. MAULDIN, 0F L08 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' LOCK.

Application filed July 8, 1918. Serial No. 243,778.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. MAULDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new against tampering, compactness in form and neatness in appearance, and which will be generally superior in reliability and serv iceability. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination lock which is susceptible of adaptation for use in connection with a wide variety of means, mechanisms and de vices, to prevent the unauthorized use or operation of the same, as well as being useful in the usual fields where other locks are ordinarily employed, as for safes, safety deposit boxes, doors and the like.

Another object is to provide a telltale means operable upon a wrong adjustment of the permutable parts to indicate the same and to remain in indicating position until the correct permutation is made.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a longitudinallymovable lock control element is provided, and a plurality of rotatable circular members each having a notch adapted for registration with a lateral projection or stump on the lock control element are mounted transversely thereto and preferably spaced apart about the longitudi- I nal axis of the lock control element and in a common plane; such members are pretterably mounted on suitable stems ranging parallel with the lock control element in a suitable casing, and such stems project through suitable apertures in the trout wall of the casing, the projecting end of each stem being provided with a knob or finger grip; the lock control element is likewise provided at its projecting end with an operating knob or grip. When the device is in locked position the preferably circular members prevent or block longitudinal movement of the lock control element, but when the circular members are turned, through their respective stems, so that properregistration of stump and notch is provided for, the lock control element is unlocked and may be moved longitudinally in the casing, so rendering the device operative or permit ting access to the safe, box or the like, as the case may be. A toothed wheel may be provided on each stem, and a spring click arranged to engage each such toothed wheel, whereby authorized persons knowing the combination or" a particular lock, may, by counting the audible clicks produced by the springs, turn each circular member to its position of notch and stump registration, a stop device co-acting with each circular member determining the starting point in turning such members to make the proper combination. Furthermore, one or more of the stems carrying the circular members may be provided with a co-acting telltale control element which is in operable position while the lock control element is in locked position and which becomes inoperative only upon proper manipulation of the lock control element.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists inthe novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of locking means constructed and organized in accordance with the invention, the same being shown as applied to a motor vehicle at the instrument board or dash thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the instrument board, taken on the axis of Fig. 1, and looking from the left, the locking means being shown in elevation;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the locking means, taken through the plane of the axis of Figure l,

and looking from the right, the view being upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 1s a transverse sectlonal viev,

taken upon the line ac -00 Figure 3, and looking in the direction of the appenced arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line a2 -00 Figure 3, and looking inthe direction of the appended arrows;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line ar -00, Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken upon the line zv ml, F igure 3, and looking in the direction of theap pended arrows.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the draw ing, in the embodiment of the invention the in shown A. designates a casing, B designatis a lock control element C designates. in each instance, means to prevent the operation of the loci-=1 control element, D designates. in'each instance, indicating means E desi cynates a tell-tale controlling means, F desig. ates alarm means controlled thereby, and (i designates controlling means for vehicle motive means controlled. by the lock control element which in the present instance takes the form of a switch controlling the ignition circuit of'an internal combustion engine.

The casing tubular body ii is shown comprising a 8 having an integral front wall 9 which is shown provided with a securing stud 10 by means of which and a nut l the lock may be secured to a vehicle dash, and a rearend wall 11 which is shown. as threadedinto the tubular body 8, as at li The loci: control element B comprises a longitudinally movable and preferably rotatable shaft 12 having one end 12*--ben't to form an electric switch bar and provided at its other end with a finger grip 12 by means of which the lock control element may be manipulated and. a member 13 preferably rotatably mounted upon the shaft 12 but prevented froni cndwise movement thereon by means of an enlargement 12 of the shaft and the grip 12 etween which enlargement and grip the member 13 is mounted. The member is preferably formed with a body portion 14 from which project a plurality of radial vanes 1 1- which extend along thebody portion a part of its length. the shank 1d of the body portion between the vanes and the grip 12" being preferably in the form of a square rod'as shown in Fig. 2 and being extensible through a square aperture in the front wall 9 of the casing. This; SQUZG shank prevents rotation of the member 13 with the shaft 1:2.

The means C each comprise a rotatable disc 15 havi a notch 15 in its periphery,

a stem 15* suitably journaled in the front wall of the casing through which it extends and journaled in partitions 16 and 17 which are positioned transversely in the casing as by means of a set screw 19 passing through the casing and through one of the bridges 18 by means of which the partitions 16 and 17. are united andheld in proper spaced relation. 11 collar 15 is provided on each stem 15 so that the respective disc 15 m y be confined between such collar and the or titlon 16, the discs being frictionally secured to the stems in any well known or other suitable manner so that ordinarily each disc will rotate with its stem, but when the vanes 1 1 are in the notches of the discs. the discs will be held against rotation thereby. but the stems may oerotated. Each disc is provided at a point on itsperiphery with a projecting finger 15 which is adapted for engagement with pin 20 fitted into a hole 21 prm'ided in the partition 16 near the periphery of the respective disc. A plurality or series of such holes 21 are provided at the periphery of each disc, so that the pins may be moved from hole to hole to effect changes in the combination when required. and to provide for different combinations in the manufacture of the loclrs.

The means D comprise a wheel 22 provided with peripheral teeth 22 and a spring click or detent 23, whic i detent is preferably mounted on the partition .17 as by a pivot screw 24-. Each detent is shown as of arcuate formation at its one end as at 23 where it bears upon the shaft enlargement 12" and as terminating in a tooth engaging point 23 at its other end. Each wheel 22 is fixedly secured to one ot the stems 15 so that when such stem is d through its finger piece or knob 15 provided on the stem externally of the casing the extent. of the are of rotation of each stern and disc 15 may be gauged by the operator as by feeling or by counting the audible clicks.

it tell-tale controlling means it comprises the cam or finger 25 provided on one of the stems 15" where such stem projects through the partition l7, and a switch bar 26 pivoted in the plane of rotation of such finger, as by a screw pivot 26 The switch bar 26 is in the form of a bellcrank-lever and is slightly bent so that it is frictionally retained in any position of adjustment by the partition 1.7 and its long arm is adapted for engagement with an electrical contact 2, to close an alarm circuit, while its short arm is formed like a cam and is adapted to ride upon the enls 'ement 12 of the shaft 12 when the locl in unlocked or workingposition. The shaft 12 being reduced rearwarcly of the enlargement 12""an d gradually merging therewith as by tapered portion 12 permits the alarm lever or switch to be thrown when the lock control element B is in locked position, but throws oil" the alarm switch upon movement of the lock control element B to unlocked position, as by causing the short arm or cam portion of the telltale control element to ride up the tapered shaft portion onto the enlargement when the shaft is moved inwardly oi? the casing. This switch bar and operating means therefor constitutes the tell-tale control element which may control any suitable alarm or signal means.

The alarm means F, for example, is shown as an electric bell mounted upon the closure 11 and between the same and a partition 28 of insulating material spaced from the closure as by posts 11. Upon the partition 28 is mounted the contact 27 in the path of movement of switch bar 26.

The ignition circuit controlling means G is shown as a plurality of electrical circuit wires 29 and 30, extending, respectively, from a battery, not shown, and a magneto, not shown, to contacts 29 and 30, respectively, mounted upon the partition 28 and in the path movement of the switch bar 12 when such switch bar is moved into operative position by operation of the lock control element B. The opposite sides or terininals of both the battery and magneto may be grounded to the vehicle frame with which the casing A is also electrically connected as will be understood by persons skilled in this art. A shunt circuit wire 31'. is connected with the battery circuit wire 29 and extends through the electric bell and such shunt wire terminates at the alarm contact 27. The contacts 29 and 3U are each spaced at one side of the switch bar 12 so that rotation of the switch bar in one direction will complete the battery circuit and rotation of the switch bar in the opposite direction will complete the magneto circuit.

The operation, method of use and advan tages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement:

When the driver of a motor vehicle desires to lock the electrical circuits controlling the motive means, the lock control element B is retracted by pulling on the finger grip thereof and so removing the switch bar 12 from the plane of the contacts 29 and 30"-. The vanes 14z slide through the notches 15 in the discs 15 and after such passage of the vanes therethrough the discs may be turned by turning their stems through the knobs 15 and so blocking inward movement of the lock control element. In order to start the motor vehicle, it will be necessary to know the combination and turn each disc. through its knob and stem until the peripheral finger 15 thereon strikes the respective pin 20 and then reverse the di? rection of disc rotation, counting the clicks of each spring detent 23, until the proper number of clicks indicates that the respective disc has its notch 15 in registration wlth the respective vane 14 on the element B.

V] hen each disc notch 15' is in registration with the vane l i the bolt may be moved inwardly and the switch bar 12 turned into engagement with either battery or magneto contact as desired. The frictional engagement of each stem and disc permits rotation of the stem knobs without disturbing the switch bar when the control element is in its innermost position.

In case of tampering by unauthorized persons, there is a liability of operating the telltale control element and setting oil the alarm, as by turning the tell-tale actuating stem in the wrong direction the cam or arm thereon will move the member 26 so that it will lie against the contact 27 and cause the ringing of the bell until the combination is properly made and the iOCk control element pushed inwardly, whereupon the cam of the tell-tale control element will ride up the tapered shaft portion to the enlargement 12 and so remove the member 26 from the contact and break the bell circuit. Due to the adjustable pin arrangement whereby each pin may be positioned in any hole de sired, of the respective series, an almost infinite variety of combinations may be had, and a certain disc may be turned clockwise from its starting point as determined by its pin setting and the contact of its peripheral finger with the pin, while the remaining discs may be turned counter-clockwise from their respective starting points.

It will be understood that many variations and departures -from the specific disclosure herein may be made in adapting the invention to varying conditions of use and service without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claim.

it is also to be understood that the lock control element and tell-tale control element are not limited to an electrical control as shown but may be connected for mechanical, pneumatic or any other well known means of control in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a combination look, a longitudinally movable lock control element, means for blocking longitudinal movement of the lock control element, comprising a plurality of permutation disks interposed in the path of a part of the lock control element and each having a notch arranged therein to permit movement of the lock control element when the disks are rotated into a predetermined position, means for setting the disks at a predetermined angular displacement in a given direction from said predetern'lined unlocking position, means hidden from sight 'fongauging the amount-pf In testimony whereof, I 'have'signed my rotation of thedisksyand means for rotatname to this specification in the presence 10 ing said disks engagingthe disks with sufof "two subscribing Witnesses.

ficient friction to normally operate-the same 7 but insufiicient to prevent movement of the ILLIAM MAULDIN' rotating means When the disks are positively lVitnesses:

held against movement by said setting 'BERT E. TUTTLE, means. J. W. BURNS. 

